Nothing Personal
Synopsis
Synopsis
Just 2 weeks before the first year students concert lead dancer Paula is injured and Cleo asks to take over. Reluctantly after some persuasion from Leroy, Lydia agrees.
Just 2 weeks before the first year students concert lead dancer Paula is injured and Cleo asks to take over. Reluctantly after some persuasion from Leroy, Lydia agrees.
Chris is given an assignment by Sherwood as extra credit for English class to work on the school newspaper. Chris' first job is to review the first years concert. Chris doesn't like the performance and deliberates about what to write. Sherwood advises him to write the truth, which Chris does in his own trackless way. The resulting article devastates Cleo and she leaves school and makes a living waiting tables at Lou's Lanes. Teachers and students punish Chris for his actions. Who knew the truth would hurt so much?
Chris is given an assignment by Sherwood as extra credit for English class to work on the school newspaper. Chris' first job is to review the first years concert. Chris doesn't like the performance and deliberates about what to write. Sherwood advises him to write the truth, which Chris does in his own trackless way. The resulting article devastates Cleo and she leaves school and makes a living waiting tables at Lou's Lanes. Teachers and students punish Chris for his actions. Who knew the truth would hurt so much?
Meanwhile, Jesse and Nicole have split up (again) and in order to make each other jealous they both try seeing other people. Nicole places an ad in the School paper and Jesse unknowingly responds to it.
Meanwhile, Jesse and Nicole have split up (again) and in order to make each other jealous they both try seeing other people. Nicole places an ad in the School paper and Jesse unknowingly responds to it.
Review
Review
This is one of my favourite episodes as its good fun with lots of humour and a nice moral dilemma which gets out of hand.
This is one of my favourite episodes as its good fun with lots of humour and a nice moral dilemma which gets out of hand.
Although Chris and Cleo seem to have the main plot to me it feels more like ensemble episode. One of the things I really like that all the kids are finally in an episode together, which is the first time since episode 2. Shorofsky, Morloch and Mrs Berg are missing but I don't really notice their absence too much.
Although Chris and Cleo seem to have the main plot to me it feels more like ensemble episode. One of the things I really like that all the kids are finally in an episode together, which is the first time since episode 2. Shorofsky, Morloch and Mrs Berg are missing but I don't really notice their absence too much.
To me this episode is similar to season 1's "The Crazies" with the kids learning lessons about truth and honesty. Here things seem to get far more complicated as different characters have different opinions of what the right course of action is.
To me this episode is similar to season 1's "The Crazies" with the kids learning lessons about truth and honesty. Here things seem to get far more complicated as different characters have different opinions of what the right course of action is.
I do feel sorry for Chris probably more than Cleo as for him things get out of hand and he really didn't want to be involved in the first place. Lydia punishes him and the kids hurt him. It's interesting that people think Chris has made a mistake and then deliberately take similar actions themselves but think at the time it's the right thing to do, when Chris didn't deliberately hurt anyone.
I do feel sorry for Chris probably more than Cleo as for him things get out of hand and he really didn't want to be involved in the first place. Lydia punishes him and the kids hurt him. It's interesting that people think Chris has made a mistake and then deliberately take similar actions themselves but think at the time it's the right thing to do, when Chris didn't deliberately hurt anyone.
I love how Doris deliberates about walking out of Chris' performance. She obviously doesn't agree with the other kid's actions but eventually follows the pack. It's nice that by the end of the episodes Doris, Leroy and Lydia realise that their actions were wrong and learn something from the issues.
I love how Doris deliberates about walking out of Chris' performance. She obviously doesn't agree with the other kid's actions but eventually follows the pack. It's nice that by the end of the episodes Doris, Leroy and Lydia realise that their actions were wrong and learn something from the issues.
The idea of a school paper is a good one, although as they seem to be putting together an issue per week I'm a little confused how all the students involved can fit the work in with there studies and all the shows they are doing. This seems particularly true of Dwight who's got his hall monitor duties to do too.
The idea of a school paper is a good one, although as they seem to be putting together an issue per week I'm a little confused how all the students involved can fit the work in with there studies and all the shows they are doing. This seems particularly true of Dwight who's got his hall monitor duties to do too.
Nicole and Jesse's story is great fun although I'm not convinced either of them would take too much interest in placing an ad in a newspaper. We see them both surrounded by a group of people from the opposite sex so if they wanted to do something to make the other jealous I don't know why they just don't go out with one of them. Obviously the writers wanted to link their story to the school paper too. I do enjoy their relationship and all its ups and downs as it's something totally different for Fame as in the past all relationships have started and ended in one episode but this feels a lot more realistic.
Nicole and Jesse's story is great fun although I'm not convinced either of them would take too much interest in placing an ad in a newspaper. We see them both surrounded by a group of people from the opposite sex so if they wanted to do something to make the other jealous I don't know why they just don't go out with one of them. Obviously the writers wanted to link their story to the school paper too. I do enjoy their relationship and all its ups and downs as it's something totally different for Fame as in the past all relationships have started and ended in one episode but this feels a lot more realistic.
We have the start here of Dwight's crush on Holly which I always enjoyed. His letter to the personal add is really sweet and I love his scene with Holly when she's trying to find out who the letter is from but he can't find the courage to tell her the truth. However, I'm a little confused here because Dwight is very much part of the group here and is out with them at Lou's Lanes for both the scene where the kids walk out on Chris and for the finale however in "Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf" later in the season he's not part of the group and doesn't know how to act around people.
We have the start here of Dwight's crush on Holly which I always enjoyed. His letter to the personal add is really sweet and I love his scene with Holly when she's trying to find out who the letter is from but he can't find the courage to tell her the truth. However, I'm a little confused here because Dwight is very much part of the group here and is out with them at Lou's Lanes for both the scene where the kids walk out on Chris and for the finale however in "Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf" later in the season he's not part of the group and doesn't know how to act around people.
I like Janet's "Dream Street" song and the little video using the rest of the cast that they put together. A lot of Janet fans think that this was an official music video done by the record company instead being part of a Fame episode. Her little speech about one day becoming a big star couldn’t have come more true for Janet.
I like Janet's "Dream Street" song and the little video using the rest of the cast that they put together. A lot of Janet fans think that this was an official music video done by the record company instead being part of a Fame episode. Her little speech about one day becoming a big star couldn’t have come more true for Janet.
It's a nice feel good ending and I do love Billy and Janet duetting on "Blast the Music", which is a great upbeat song.
It's a nice feel good ending and I do love Billy and Janet duetting on "Blast the Music", which is a great upbeat song.
A point of trivia, is at the start of the episode the extras who are part of the bowling team are all wearing shirts with "Blinn's Trophies" written on the back as a tribute to departed executive producer "William Blinn". I wonder if that was the idea of Debbie Allen who is directing this episode.
A point of trivia, is at the start of the episode the extras who are part of the bowling team are all wearing shirts with "Blinn's Trophies" written on the back as a tribute to departed executive producer "William Blinn". I wonder if that was the idea of Debbie Allen who is directing this episode.
Episode Pictures
Episode Pictures
Production Number & Filming Schedule
Production Number & Filming Schedule
Production Number 2826
Production Number 2826
Executive Producer Patricia Jones & Donald Reiker
Air Dates
Air Dates
Original air date in U.S.A 01st November 1984
Original air date in U.K. 22nd April 1985, Repeated on The Children's Channel Broadcast Autumn 1992
Original air date in Italy 30th August 1986
Original air date in France 29th January 1996
Watch Episode
Watch Episode
Production Credits
Production Credits
Teleplay by James Berg and Stan Zimmerman
Directed by Debbie Allen
Assistant Director Leslie Jackson
Guest Stars & Dancers
Guest Stars & Dancers
Dick Miller as Lou Mackie
David Greenlee as Dwight
Paula Brown as The Girl (Paula)
Songs & MP3 Downloads
Songs & MP3 Downloads
Dream Street
Dream Street
Performed by Janet Jackson
Written by Pete Belotte, Phil Shenale & Arthur Barrow
Blast The Music
Blast The Music
Performed by Billy Hufsey & Janet Jackson
Written by James Patrick Dunne & Elizabeth Bradley
Song Lyrics and Sheet Music (Click the drop down Menus and select Song)
Song Lyrics and Sheet Music (Click the drop down Menus and select Song)
Lyrics
Lyrics
U.K. Radio Times/Other U.K. Listings
U.K. Radio Times/Other U.K. Listings
Italian TV Guide Ad
Italian TV Guide Ad
U.S. TV Promo
U.S. TV Promo
Trivia
Trivia
International Dubbed Episode Versions
International Dubbed Episode Versions
Italian
Italian
LINKS
LINKS
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